New Automatic Meter Reading Equipment

  Installation       Features        Benefits         Questions

LWSD Manager (until 2006) Rick Russell (pictured right) discussing the ORION® CONNECT® software with Tony Reed, water operator (pictured left).

Features

Leak Detection, Tamper Detection and Theft Detection technology.

If there is a leak that goes undetected by the customer, the Radio Read Meter will notify LWSD that there is a potential leak.  If a meter is tampered with by the customer, the service is flagged and the LWSD is notified.  If water is being stolen by the customer, the LWSD is notified by the Radio Read Meter.

Installation of new meters aids in detecting and reducing unaccounted for water and replace low registering meters.

Benefits

 Radio Read technology in the meter reading process offers a multitude of benefits.  Our meters are read monthly by our employees.  Prior to a Radio Read Meter installation, two of the LWSD employees drive or walk to each of the properties to manually read the meter each month.  This process takes 4 to 5 days or 64 to 80 man hours every month.  As our system continues to grow, the meter reading process will continue to lengthen without the installation of Radio Read Meters.  Many circumstances require the reader to gain access to yards or businesses through fences or hard to access areas.  Dogs are becoming more numerous and the safety of our employees becoming harder to protect.  We do not allow our employees to use mace or pepper spray to protect themselves from dogs.  This would only make them meaner to strangers and possibly their owners. 

Because the Radio Read Meter is installed at your home or business, the meter reader does not need to access your property to read the meter monthly.  With this system,  the meter reading is accomplished in approximately 3 to 5 hours each month by an employee that drives the system while the Radio Read equipment downloads the information from your meter.    The resultant benefits include:

• cuts overall read time by 72 percent

• reduced human error in the meter read process

• reduced vehicle maintenance costs and emissions

• fewer re-bills

• eliminates home or business intrusion by meter readers

• reductions in billing adjustments

• reduced customer complaints

• reduced exposure of employees to bad weather

• insuring greater safety of employees and property owners

• reductions in accidents and injuries resulting in workman’s comp claims or liability

Questions

The Radio Read Meter installation began in March of 2003.  Approximately 60 meter conversions were completed each month.  With over 1,590 meters in our system, the Radio Read Meter conversion took over a year to complete.   Thank you for cooperating with this important project.  Please feel free to contact our office at (406) 259-4120 if you have any questions.